Motorola Moto X Play vs. Moto X40: A Clash of Eras

The Motorola Moto X Play, released in 2015, was a mid-range champion known for its impressive battery life. Now, let's pit it against the 2023 Moto X40, a flagship contender boasting cutting-edge technology. This comparison will reveal just how far smartphone technology has advanced.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Moto X40 utterly dominates the Moto X Play across nearly every metric. While the X Play offered exceptional battery life for its time, the X40's superior performance, camera, display, and charging capabilities make it the clear winner for modern users. It's a generational upgrade.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Moto X Play	Motorola Moto X40

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - XT1562	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 38, 41 - XT1562	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66
5G bands	-	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - India	CDMA 800

Launch
Announced	2015, July. Released 2015, August	2022, December 15
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2022, December 22

Body
Build	-	Glass front, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions	148 x 75 x 10.9 mm (5.83 x 2.95 x 0.43 in)	161.2 x 74 x 8.6 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	169 g (5.96 oz)	199 g (7.02 oz)
	Splash and dust resistant	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	-
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)
Size	5.5 inches, 82.6 cm2 (~74.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	OLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm)	Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 405	Adreno 740
OS	Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat)	Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MYUI 6.0

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
	eMMC 4.5	UFS 3.1 - 128GB UFS 4.0 - 256GB/512GB

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama	Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	21 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.4", 1.1µm, PDAF	-
Triple	-	50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/1.6, (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF
Video	1080p@30fps	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	5 MP, f/2.2	60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm
Video	-	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP, LE, aptX	5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	microUSB 2.0	USB Type-C, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	-	Ready For 3.5 support

Battery
Charging	15W wired	125W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 50% in 7 min 15W wireless 5W reverse wired
Type	Li-Ion 3630 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 4600 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, White	Black, Blue
Models	XT1562, XT1563, XT1564	XT2301-5
Price	About 240 EUR	About 540 EUR
SAR	0.56 W/kg (head) 0.80 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	0.49 W/kg (head) 0.68 W/kg (body)	-

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -93.8dB / Crosstalk -95.2dB	-
Battery life	Endurance rating 83h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 1520:1 (nominal), 3.222 (sunlight)	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB	-
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 809Basemark X: 5032	-

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -93.8dB / Crosstalk -95.2dB	-
Battery (old)	Endurance rating 83h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 1520:1 (nominal), 3.222 (sunlight)	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB	-
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 809Basemark X: 5032	-

Motorola Moto X Play

Excellent battery life (for its time)
Good sunlight readability
Relatively affordable (if found used)

Outdated processor
Low-resolution display
Basic camera
Slow charging

Motorola Moto X40

Flagship performance
Excellent camera system
Vibrant OLED display with 144Hz refresh rate
Ultra-fast charging (wired and wireless)
Modern Android experience

Potentially higher price
May require more frequent charging with heavy use

Display Comparison

The Moto X Play featured a 5.5-inch 1080p display with a respectable 1520:1 contrast ratio and excellent sunlight readability. The Moto X40 boasts a significantly larger 6.67-inch OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and likely a higher resolution, offering vibrant colors, smoother visuals, and a more immersive experience. The X40's display is a clear upgrade.

Camera Comparison

The Moto X Play's camera was decent for its era, but the Moto X40's camera system is vastly superior. Expect significantly improved image quality, better low-light performance, and advanced features like optical image stabilization (OIS) and potentially multiple lenses on the X40. The X40 likely offers 4K video recording, a feature absent on the X Play.

Performance

The Moto X Play's Snapdragon 615 chipset was adequate for its time, but struggles with modern apps and multitasking. The Moto X40's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a powerhouse, delivering blazing-fast performance for gaming, demanding apps, and seamless multitasking. The X40's performance is in a different league.

Battery Life

The Moto X Play was renowned for its exceptional 83-hour endurance rating. While impressive, the Moto X40's larger battery capacity (likely around 4500-5000mAh) combined with efficient power management and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's efficiency allows for competitive battery life despite the higher refresh rate display and more powerful processor. The X40's 125W wired charging and 50W wireless charging offer significantly faster charging speeds.

Buying Guide

The Moto X Play is only relevant for collectors or those seeking a very basic, long-lasting phone for minimal tasks. The Moto X40 is for users who demand flagship performance, a great camera, fast charging, and a modern Android experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Moto X Play still usable in 2023?

Yes, but it's severely limited by its outdated hardware. It's suitable for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light web browsing, but struggles with modern apps and games.

❓ What Android version does the Moto X40 run?

The Moto X40 ships with Android 13, with guaranteed updates for several years. The Moto X Play is likely running an older, unsupported version of Android.